GR4.A and GR6.A Assembly

by dan goldman

Follow along with four easy steps - what to expect when your Gravirax package arrives and how to assemble your new rack!

(read time 10 min) (build time ~15 min)

1. Unpack and Organize
2. Decide on Adjustable options
3. Join receiver and rack components
4. Mount to your car or SUV!

 

To safely assemble your new rack, you will need the following tools and the experience required to use them correctly. It's ok to ask for help if you need to.

  1. 1/2" box end wrench or Adjustable Crescent wrench
  2. 3/16" Allen Key

 

Step 1: Carefully unpack and check your parts and tools

  1. Receiver Hitch offset
  2. Pivot Box
  3. Ski tube assembly with upright
  4. Hardware Bag
    1pc. - 5/8" Receiver Hitch pin
    1pc. - 1/2" yellow zinc safety pin
    1pc ea.- 1/2" x 1" yellow zinc Bolt, Nut
    3pc. - 3/8" x 2.5" SS Shoulder Bolt
    3pc. - 5/16 Nyloc Nut SS
    3pc. - 5/16 Flat Washer SS
    3pc. - 3/8 Washer , SS
    2pc. - Steel Pivot Bushing

 

Step 2: Adjustable options

Gravirax adjustable racks offer improved fit across a wide range of vehicles. Before tightening your hardware, lightly assemble and mount the rack to your vehicle to evaluate aspects of the fit with respect to where you park and drive. 

1. Driver or Passenger side rack.

The receiver hitch offset is reversible to allow for setting up your rack to fit on either the driver or passenger side of your vehicle. 
The offset also allows us to maintain visibility of the license plate and most center mounted back up cameras.
Things to consider here are where passengers will be loading and unloading with relation to traffic. Is parallel parking common in your area? It will be easier to see where you are backing up if the rack is mounted on the driver side. Likewise for angle parking on the street, mounting the rack on the driver side allows you to see cars coming behind you in an angle parking spot.

2. Four mounting options closer or further from the back of your vehicle.

Consider things like the overall length of your vehicle as well as the places you regularly park and the frequency in which you need to pivot the rack to access the back of the vehicle. 

Mounting closer to the bumper is good for large vehicles in limited garage space. However, the pivot pin will need to be pulled to open tailgates.

Mounting further from the bumper will increase the overall vehicle length, but can allow for the tailgate to open and close with skis loaded. Highly desirable, this is the peak of convenience.

3. Four positions wider or narrower.

We made the rack offset to the side in order to provide clear view of the license plate as well as most rear view backup cameras. Most people find it best to set the rack up where it won't block any of the license plate or the tail/brake lights so test the fit and find the position that works best on your vehicle.

Larger Vehicles should mount the rack wider, smaller vehicles will find the rack starts to block taillights if mounted in the same position. These should be one or two steps in towards center.

4. Three positions up and down. 

Mount your rack as low as possible without creating a situation where it will drag through dips in the road. Look at overall height with skis in the tubes and make sure you will fit into garages at home and at the resort.

Step 3: Assemble the two large components

  • Lay the ski tubes on a soft surface with the pivot upright facing up
    • (to protect your rack's finish, place the rack on towels or the cardboard of the packaging)

  • Join the receiver hitch assembly and the rack assembly, visually align the upper and lower pivot bore holes and adjust until clear.
    • In some cases, inserting the upper safety pin first, followed by the lower pivot bolt second, helps to align the components. 

  • Fix 1x 3/8" washer beneath the Allen head Pivot Bolt, and insert through the lower pivot hole and with bushings.
  • Place 1x 5/16" washer on opposite side, and add the nylon locking safety nut
  • Loosely tighten the nut/bolt assembly with Allen Wrench and box end or crescent wrench.

  • Secure upper pivot safety pin and latch.

 

Step 3: Mounting Gravirax on your vehicle:

  • Slide receiver assembly into your car's 2" receiver hitch
  • Align and insert hitch safety pin, fix safety clip

 

To Operate your Pivot:

  • Support the upper rack frame with your hand
  • Remove the safety pin and set it somewhere safe, the pivot is free once the pin is pulled
  • Gently allow the ski tubes to tilt back until the rack assembly reaches it's stop
  • Push ski tube rack up until it stops, insert and fix safety pin

Before you drive: Carefully open and close your car or truck's tailgate to familiarize yourself with clearance

Examine how the pivot works with your vehicle so you have experience with it before you're in the snow.

 

 

     

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